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Parental Guidance

Data show college athletes lean on their families for academic, emotional and financial support

October 11, 2017 1:29pmAmy Wimmer Schwarb

Just how much do college athletes rely on their parents and family for support during their college years? More than you might think. Fifty-five percent of student-athletes communicate with their parents once or more each day. The majority (66 percent of men and 83 percent of women) report reaching out for help coping with stress or mental well-being. And many seek help making academic decisions, such as choosing classes (60 percent of men and 69 percent of women). A smaller portion hope their parents will step into a situation on their behalf: 16 percent of men and 12 percent of women report asking a family member to contact a coach, while 11 percent of men and 4 percent of women say they have asked a family member to contact a professor. And while 72 percent of men and 77 percent of women still report reaching out to their families for help with a bill or a money problem, the results are clear: Asking for money is just one of many reasons for student-athletes to call home.